New Adventures

After eight years living in Clairemont / Bay Ho life is moving us on to new adventures. Our affordable Condo with a million dollar view is up for grabs. Take a look at the listing; tell your friends; stop by for a look. It won't last long. 
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/92117/type-condo-townhome-row-home-co-op

Jacaranda

This is a Jacaranda Tree. The word Jacaranda brings up images in my mind of Star Wars (Chewbacca, Jabba or Watto). If you're not familiar with this beautiful tree that blooms in late spring, do yourself a favor and do an image search of this tree. There are great pics online. Here's a link to the Jacaranda Tree if you care to take a look now but please come back to finish this article.

This is a pic of just one of many Jacaranda Trees in my neighborhood

The first time I saw a Jacaranda Tree was on Maui, Hawaii. I was on my way back down from watching the sunrise at the top of Mount Haleakala and there it was. If I didn't see it with my own eyes I would have guessed that someone was pulling my leg, photoshopping some sink flower arrangement into a countryside pic. It was breathtaking then and I still feel the same way about them now. 

It was in the mid-70's when I saw my first blooming Jacaranda Tree. The next time would be about 30 years later in San Diego. I don't know how these beautiful trees hid themselves out of my view all these years but they did. "Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahamas. It has been planted widely in Asia, especially in Nepal. It is also quite common in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. It has been introduced to most tropical and subtropical regions. The genus name is also used as the common name." 

Here are more pics from Pinterest of the Jacaranda Tree. 

The Jacaranda Tree blooms in late Spring in San Diego but you will be amazed, the first Winter you spend in San Diego, at just how many flowers brighten the landscape in and around San Diego in the Winter. When I first moved here people would tell me just how different San Diego was than areas just North of here and I found it difficult to believe, but it's true. The climate in San Diego is unique. 

I was in San Diego for a couple years before I saw my first Jacaranda Tree. I'm not sure if I just wasn't paying attention or perhaps I just didn't drive through those neighborhood where they donned their beautiful blooms. Never-the-less, I did eventually find them or they found me and every year that I am in San Diego is a new adventure, where I find new sights to satisfy my visual senses. You will too, when you RetireInSanDiego.

Visit Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery this Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, May 30th, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery will be visited by loved ones from around the world. Fort Rosecrans is located on Memorial Drive, Point Loma, San Diego. You drive through the Cemetery on the way to Cabrillo National Monument.

During WWII my Father served in the Philippines, my Mother served as a nurse in Washington State and Aunt Sylvia worked in a mailroom here in San Diego. Sylvia was one of many responsible for distribution of mail to the Pacific Fleet. She is 96 now and lives in Idaho. Dementia is a challenge at her age and she doesn't talk much anymore about her days in San Diego, but I remember hearing her reminisce about those days. Back when my age was in the single digits I recall her telling me how important and sensitive the mail was and that no one knew where the sailors were, on which ship, because it was a matter or national security. It all seemed very scary to me even though WWII had been over with for more than a decade. 

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website provides a wealth of information about Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and those interned there from 1846 to today. I'm including a link here for your convenience. http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftrosecrans.asp

Road Trip

For those of you who follow this blog, you have noticed that there is a slight gap in the posts this past week. The reason? A well deserved road trip to the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

When you RetireInSanDiego you don't stay here devoid of all outside adventures. Of Course not! There are so many spectacular, wondrous places to see in this great, vast country of ours. It's just that, living in the greatest climate on earth (no exaggeration here) you get to choose when to go on those memorable road trips. San Diego will be here when you get back. I have been to all the above mentioned National Parks in years past and most of the time it has been when, well, when everyone else was there; generally during the summer months. But personally, the fringe times are better for me. They are less crowded times and in many ways there are more options.

First stop, the Grand Canyon: It was beautiful and there were not nearly the crowds you run into during the summer months. Okay, it did snow one morning but it didn't stick and the white accents were beautiful.

The Grand Canyon from near Hermit's Rest

It always takes me a while to get out of Grand Canyon N. P. because there is so much to see. I want to stop at every turn-out and hike as many trials as I can. The Grand Canyon Watchtower at Desert View, is always good for an hour or three. The views are spectacular as is the Watchtower. There have been many improvements over the years. If you haven't been there, put it on your list of places to see and while away a few hours.

The Grand Canyon Watchtower at Desert View, the East Entrance

Next stop Bryce N. P. I've never been to Bryce this time of year. If I was in a hiking mood I would have been disappointed because it was pretty muddy, but on this particular road trip, Bryce was a beautiful  place to enjoy part of a day before continuing on toward Yellowstone.

Bryce Canyon from Inspiration Point

And then of course, Yellowstone. I vow to spend a prolonged period of time in Yellowstone in the next couple of years. I have to. Reading about it only whets my appetite to learn more and a few short days never gets me past taking pics of the geysers, elk and bison.

This is the Lion Geyser. By complete accident we also saw the Beehive Geyser erupt. It was truly spectacular.  

We learned from a young lady who waited on us at the Old Faithful Inn one morning for breakfast, and who worked the previous winter season at the Snow Lodge near the Inn, that they open the Inn, deep in the winter months, for a special showing of the 1980's movie "The Shining" for all the staff to see who decided to brave the winter season at Yellowstone.

Old Faithful Inn

No matter how fabulous the place, time away is important and San Diego is no exception. We had a great time, albeit too short, but we will be back. Perhaps your next road trip will be to this corner of the world, when you decide to RetireInSanDiego. See you then.

Save the Kiss

We're continuing south along the Embarcadero past the Cruise Ship port and ferry terminal and past the Midway. (We will come back to the Midway when we have a little more time).

Next, look to your right. The first time I saw the "Save the Kiss" statue I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This pic is one that I took several years ago and I would guess that you couldn't find this park so "people free" these days. "Save the Kiss" is a waterfront statue of the iconic photo taken of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square as they celebrated the end of World War II in 1945. I know that you are familiar with the pic. There's also a book titled "The Kissing Sailor" about the people in the pic.

Save the Kiss

The statue stands 25 feet high and is visited by 10's of thousands of people each year from all over the world.  This is just one more place to put on your list of things to see when you RetireInSanDiego.

Art Glows in Buena Vista Underpass

"A dark and intimidating underpass on Buena Vista Avenue in Lemon Grove has been transformed with a large-scale mural. The project is one of the latest results of the San Diego Museum of Art's provocative Open Spaces program, which seeks to place public art in underserved neighborhoods. Funded by a $530,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation, Open Spaces kicked off in Lincoln Park in 2013 and has since traveled to Logan Heights, Lemon Grove and National City." SDCityBeat.

One of Lauren's flowers is to the immediate left of the two people on the sidewalk. The mural is on both sides of the underpass with a combined length of over 200 feet. 

Lauren sat in on some of the first meetings with the City of Lemon Grove to discuss the mural and the possibility that she might be able to participate as one of the artists. After 6 to 9 months of silence, the call came in, "Lauren, your panels are ready to be picked up." I remember that day all too well. She thought the artists for the mural had long since been selected and she was passed over. After the shock had worn off we jumped in the car and headed for Bread & Salt Bakery and Art Gallery in San Diego to pick up her panels. Lauren, and I, were so excited we couldn't get there fast enough.

Lauren is a fantastic artist. She has painted and displayed her art all over the world but I don't believe she has ever painted anything larger than a 4 foot or 5 foot canvas. This, well, it is daunting. The 4 foot by 4 foot panels when assembled created a flower 16 feet wide by up to 20 feet high. It truly is amazing.

The afternoon of the day that we picked up the panels our condo, and I do mean the entire condo, was transformed into an artist's studio. Looking at the picture on the right reminds me of just how profoundly our living space had been transformed. Canvas panels were taped up on several walls and paint was everywhere. It was an experience I was honored to be a part of and I'm so proud of Lauren for her fearlessness in taking on such a monumental and overwhelming project. 

Miguel Angel Godoy created the original mock up of the mural and a small cadre of artists transferred the outlines of the flowers onto a canvas-like material which, once the painting on the panels was completed, the panels were installed on the walls of the underpass. Miguel's inspiration and determination was formidable.

I am only mentioning a few of the names of the all the people involved in this project. Irma Esquivias worked with the San Diego Museum of Art, about a dozen artists painted the flowers and even Miguel's father was on site for a substantial period helping out wherever help was needed.

Do you find this story inspiring? Do you wish that you could be a part of something like this? You can. Projects like this are planned and executed all over the country every day. And who knows, maybe  the planning for another mural will be in the works, one that you can be a part of, when you RetireInSanDiego. 

Emma and Tita

Greetings,

This is an unusual post for me but one that I felt was necessary. The family of my good friend and work mate recently suffered a tragedy. As long as I've known Sergio I have heard of his daughter and granddaughter. Hearing Sergio speak of his family, how close they are and how much he obviously loved these two was inspiring to me. When our office would go out for a birthday lunch and enjoy the camaraderie of food and drink away from the office we would undoubtedly raise our glasses to Sergio's granddaughter. It was all in good fun and cheer and it was real.

Early one morning a couple of weeks ago the phone rang with a tragic message. Sergio's daughter and granddaughter were in a fatal accident. Both were killed. My heart sank and I'm still in pain for my friend. I can't begin to imagine what her husband and son must be going through; how profoundly their lives have surely changed.

The link below is to a gofundme. If you feel so inclined to help with a few dollars, your gift will be appreciated. Please share this post so that more people may be given the opportunity to help. These kind of things always happen to someone else, another family. It's always been a black and white headline in the newspaper and while I read the words they really don't mean much except to send the message that some people somewhere are hurting. This tragedy has touched my life, so I must write about it and do what I can to help.

Thank you sharing these few moments with me. For Emma and Tita, Sergio and his family.

Mission Trails: The Visitors Center & Old Mission Dam

This is what you see from the Mission Trails Visitors Center north observation deck. South Fortuna Peak is the peak left of center, Kwaay Paay Peak is in the center and Cowles Mountain is on the far right. The picture below is a panoramic view of somewhat less than or about 180 degrees so it covers a lot of territory.

Mission Gorge is just right of South Fortuna Peak. The San Diego River runs through the gorge, Mission Gorge, and shares it's life giving water with the native flora and fauna that make their homes here, as they have done for centuries. The day that I was there people were enjoying the sights and sounds of the cool San Diego River water; I even saw a couple of fishermen.

The Old Mission Dam was the first major irrigation project on the Pacific coast of the United States. The stone and cement dam is 220 ft long, 13 ft wide at its base and 12 ft high. Water was released for a sawmill and irrigation at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, 5 miles away. It is now part of Mission Trails Regional Park, the largest municipal park in California. Old Mission Dam is also a registered state historic landmark.

The round trip walk from the visitors center to Old Mission Dam and back is about 3 3/4 miles. There isn't much elevation gain and loss so it isn't a strenuous walk. That said, when it is warm out, take water with you and drink it. I can't tell you how many times I have gone for a walk at Mission Trails and have seen people walking without any water. Carrying a water bottle is a hassle. I always bring my hydration pack with me so my hands are free for taking pictures. By using a hydration pack I can easily carry a snack too. Dehydration is serious and happens all too quickly; be prepared. There is at least one pit-stop along the way if you need it and one at the Dam as well.

The Mission Trails Visitors Center is the trailhead for several hikes at Mission Trails. Heading West you will access the trail to North and South Fortuna Peaks; go strait up the gorge and can access Kwaay Paay Peak and trails around the back side of North Fortuna. If climbing is more to your liking Kwaay Paay Peak usually has several climbers testing their skill and wits on the West face.

The small rotunda on the far left of the visitors center in the picture above is a research library. The day I was there bees decided to check out the digs, but I'm sure by the time you visit they will have moved on. Before we stray too far from the visitors center, check out the events calendar. I have enjoyed many performances in their theater, the quality of which keeps me coming back for more. Quite by accident one Sunday afternoon I walked into the visitors center just as the San Diego Harp Society was beginning an event. Three young ladies played several pieces on their Harps for a standing room only crowd. It was amazing. Just one more place to explore when you RetireInSanDiego.

Happy Wednesday

Balboa Park is truly a unique place. You and I have walked through many a park and gardens and I will admit that the Golden Gate Botanical Gardens are breathtaking. Hmmmm, as I'm writing this and getting ready to compare one garden to another, I'm thinking, maybe I shouldn't do that. There are so many beautiful places throughout this great country of ours and there are outstandingly beautiful places in most, if not all, of them. I love the gardens in Balboa Park and I'm sure you will too when you decide to RetireInSanDiego. Thank you for allowing me to think and write at the same time. Please enjoy a few pics of mine that I'm hoping will brighten your Wednesday.

Have a fabulous day. :-)